Cleveland Clinic has announced their next step in the development of a preventive breast cancer vaccine. The Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, along with the Cleveland Clinic Innovations, and support from the Ohio Third Frontier Program of the Department of Development, is beginning the Phase I trial of the vaccine. This vaccine is designed to prevent the development of breast cancer in women who have not yet been diagnosed.
The vaccine is a combination of two peptides and an adjuvant, which is a substance that helps the vaccine to be more effective. The vaccine is designed to stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack any precancerous cells that may be present before they can develop into a full-blown cancer.
The Phase I trial is expected to last for about one year, with volunteers being monitored for the duration of the trial. The initial step in the development of the vaccine was to test the safety of the vaccine and determine if it can be tolerated by the body. The next step of the trial will evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccine.
The trial will involve a total of 60 participants, all of which are women between the ages of 35 and 75. The participants must meet certain criteria to qualify for the trial, including being free of any cancers and other diseases. Once the trial is complete, the data will be reviewed to determine if the vaccine is safe and effective for preventing breast cancer.
Should the trial be successful, the vaccine will proceed to further testing and potentially be available to the public in the future. The preventive breast cancer vaccine holds great promise for potentially saving many lives. With continued research and support, it is possible that the vaccine could one day be available to help women reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.